'normovolemic' originates from modern medical/New Latin formation, specifically from the prefix 'normo-' (from Latin/Greek 'norma' meaning 'standard, rule' → 'normal') combined with 'volemic' from New Latin 'volemia' (related to Latin 'volumen' meaning 'volume') and the medical suffix '-emic'/'-emia' indicating a blood condition.

'normovolemic' developed as an adjectival form related to the noun 'normovolemia' (formed by analogy with 'hypovolemia' and 'hypervolemia') and the British spelling variant 'normovolaemic' arose through the '-ae-' spelling convention (e.g. 'aemia'/'ae' forms) before stabilizing in clinical usage.

Initially coined to denote 'having a normal blood volume', the term has retained that specific clinical meaning in modern medical usage.